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| Melanie |
She especially stressed that the Government must seriously look into the rising costs of living in Sabah, and make serious effort to address it.
She hoped that the Malaysia Shipping Master Plan which will be ready by the end of this year will address the cabotage policy and that the Transport Minister will resolve the woes of Sabahan afflicted by the cabotage policy.
She went on to lament that other than the Pan Borneo Highway and the Bus Rapid Transit system, there is no noted allocation for ports upgrade and capacity enhancement, no airport upgrade or air cargo hub, and no downstream activity.
“Sabah is a resource-rich state and still very much resources-based and having efficient ports and air transport facilities is pertinent for the economic development of the state and Melanie urged the State Government to ensure this,” she said.
She further lamented that despite being a major oil palm and oil and gas producer in Malaysia, Sabah still takes the back stand in the oil and gas industry.
“Look at the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) in Johor. Petronas had decided to develop a refinery and petrochemical integrated development project in Pengerang where there is no oil nor gas production,” she pointed out.
The total investment for PIPC project is approximately RM97 billion. It is expected to employ 70,000 workers during construction and generate 4,000 new jobs upon completion.
“And in the 2016 Budget, Pengerang PIPC is getting another RM18 billion investment!
“By 2019 when PIPC is completed, the economic boost that it will bring to Johor is tremendous. And what do we get? Sabah is in a position to take a front seat and the people in government have to go and get it for us,” she said.
Touching on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for Kota Kinabalu, Melanie who is a former Luyang Assemblywoman lamented that the city had waited almost 10 years to get it.
She recalled that the Federal Government had announced the said scheme in the 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) and the establishment of the Public Transport Trust Fund was set up then.
“This grand scheme was proposed when the government increased the petrol prices to the hull and cries of car users and the government then promised that the Public Transport Trust Fund to fund public transport system in the country.
“It is only after 10 years that they kick-start this in Sabah. We waited two Malaysia Plans and only in this 2016 Budget, the first year of the implementation of the 11th Malaysia Plan, that we see Sabah being allotted fund for the Bus Rapid Transit. But in Kuala Lumpur, they are already talking about doing MRT II and LRT 3 with much much bigger allocation,” she said.
While acknowledging that being the first year of the 11th Malaysia Plan, the 2016 Budget is important, Melanie expressed regret that the BRT is the only allocation for Kota Kinabalu.
She further reminded that under the 11th Malaysia Plan, there is a Master Plan for 4 cites to spearhead growth in Malaysia and Kota Kinabalu is one of them besides Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, and Kuching to be the growth catalyst to stimulate national development. It was expected that by 2020, these cities will have undergone a steep-change in their economic growth, importance as talent hubs and livability.
She contended that to achieve this target, it is pertinent that budget allocation be set aside for plans and programs to make this a reality by 2020.
“And it will be right to start with the 2016 Budget but there was no other obvious allocation other than for the Bus Rapid Transit!” she lamented.
Melanie further cautioned that with whatever that has been allocated to Sabah, the government has to ensure that the local will benefit.
And in line with the earlier announcement by the Prime Minister that projects in Sabah should be awarded to Sabah based companies and contractors, Melanie urged the State Government to ensure that only local Sabah based companies will be awarded these projects.
“Gone should be the days when Sabahans are told that we do not have qualified companies or contractors or that we are not up to the grade. Time and business are also more challenging now and if we do not look after ourselves, who will?”
On the tax reliefs and the upward adjustment of the minimum wage policy which the government hopes to bring relief to the M40 and the B40 groups, Melanie stressed that the bottom line is still the important consideration for these groups.
“The question is, do they live better! Has their quality of life improved? If the costs of living keep going up, the proposed changes may not address fully their problem. Would they really have extra money to spend after paying off all the bills which are now higher?” she asked.
By Michael Teh
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